The Saktas believe this universe is an expression of
Sakti and an infinite reservoir of power and Sakti. Sakti indicates both activity and
capacity. It may be applied to any form of activity; the power to see; the power
hear; the power to walk etc. All these powers of activity are ultimately reducible to
the primordial Sakti from which every other form of power proceeds. This
primordial power is known as an universal mother of many names. She is infinite
power, supreme Sakti, the beginning of all the form of all and her greatness is
boundless.

Such ultimate infinite power can be conceived in any form.
Because it has no form. Hence Sevetasvatara Upnishad points out that the
ultimate power which is also called Brahman can be conceived in the form of a
woman or in the form of a man or in any stage of life old or young.

Therefore
the Saktas conceived supreme Brahman in the form of goddess. In reality she is
neither male nor female not neuter. She is not bound to any particular form. She is
the personification of primordial energy and the source of all divine and cosmic
evolution and also the source and the controller of all forces and potentialities of
nature. She can be manifested in any form to fulfill the desires of her devotees.
She is the cause of world's creation, preservation and destruction. She inherent in
the gods, human beings and inanimate and animate beings of this universe.
Therefore the universe with all its beauties is a part of her. In the words of Sarada
Tilaka "She pervades in the universe as does oil in the sesame seed." She
manifests in so many forms as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati etc. She also
manifests herself in Dasa Mahavidyas. Dasajagnmatas, Saptamatrikas
etc.

He conception is popular from Himalayas to Kanyakumari. The worship of
this female principle can be traced in India to the hoary past. The cult of this
mother goddess existed in some form or other among the Indus valley people. It
was confirmed by the Terracotta images of the goddess found in course of
excavations. Since vedic age to the modern period its worship can be traced
without any interruption.

This book attempts to present a comprehensive study
of the origin and evolution of the concept of he goddess since Vedic age to the
modern times; discuses various forms i.e. terrific and peaceful and also as the
consort of the main gods; mythology stories associated with specific acts of
destruction.

It also describes the iconographical features of various images of
the goddess along with textual description and the significance of her
attributes.

About the Author:

She was awarded Doctorate in Art and Architecture
by the Banaras Hindu University and started her career as a lecturer in Fine Arts
in he department of Indian Culture, in the Poompuhar College of Indian Culture in
Tanjore District. For some time she served the Banaras Hindu University as a
lecturer in Sculpture. Later she became Reader in Indian Culture at A. P. College
of Indian Culture, Palani, the extension centre of Madurai Kamaraj University and
now she is working as Professor and Head of the Department of History, I.C.C.&
C.E. Madurai Kamaraj University. She is devoted to the research work in Indian
Culture and many of her works are under preparation. She is author of The
Pallava Sculpture.

The Saktas believe this universe is an expression of
Sakti and an infinite reservoir of power and Sakti. Sakti indicates both activity and
capacity. It may be applied to any form of activity; the power to see; the power
hear; the power to walk etc. All these powers of activity are ultimately reducible to
the primordial Sakti from which every other form of power proceeds. This
primordial power is known as an universal mother of many names. She is infinite
power, supreme Sakti, the beginning of all the form of all and her greatness is
boundless.

Such ultimate infinite power can be conceived in any form.
Because it has no form. Hence Sevetasvatara Upnishad points out that the
ultimate power which is also called Brahman can be conceived in the form of a
woman or in the form of a man or in any stage of life old or young.

Therefore
the Saktas conceived supreme Brahman in the form of goddess. In reality she is
neither male nor female not neuter. She is not bound to any particular form. She is
the personification of primordial energy and the source of all divine and cosmic
evolution and also the source and the controller of all forces and potentialities of
nature. She can be manifested in any form to fulfill the desires of her devotees.
She is the cause of world's creation, preservation and destruction. She inherent in
the gods, human beings and inanimate and animate beings of this universe.
Therefore the universe with all its beauties is a part of her. In the words of Sarada
Tilaka "She pervades in the universe as does oil in the sesame seed." She
manifests in so many forms as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati etc. She also
manifests herself in Dasa Mahavidyas. Dasajagnmatas, Saptamatrikas
etc.

He conception is popular from Himalayas to Kanyakumari. The worship of
this female principle can be traced in India to the hoary past. The cult of this
mother goddess existed in some form or other among the Indus valley people. It
was confirmed by the Terracotta images of the goddess found in course of
excavations. Since vedic age to the modern period its worship can be traced
without any interruption.

This book attempts to present a comprehensive study
of the origin and evolution of the concept of he goddess since Vedic age to the
modern times; discuses various forms i.e. terrific and peaceful and also as the
consort of the main gods; mythology stories associated with specific acts of
destruction.

It also describes the iconographical features of various images of
the goddess along with textual description and the significance of her
attributes.

About the Author:

She was awarded Doctorate in Art and Architecture
by the Banaras Hindu University and started her career as a lecturer in Fine Arts
in he department of Indian Culture, in the Poompuhar College of Indian Culture in
Tanjore District. For some time she served the Banaras Hindu University as a
lecturer in Sculpture. Later she became Reader in Indian Culture at A. P. College
of Indian Culture, Palani, the extension centre of Madurai Kamaraj University and
now she is working as Professor and Head of the Department of History, I.C.C.&
C.E. Madurai Kamaraj University. She is devoted to the research work in Indian
Culture and many of her works are under preparation. She is author of The
Pallava Sculpture.

I received the statue today, and it is beautiful! Worth the wait! Thank you so much, blessings, Kimberly.

Kimberly, USA

I received the Green Tara Thangka described below right on schedule. Thank you a million times for that. My teacher loved it and was extremely moved by it. Although I have seen a lot of Green Tara thangkas, and have looked at other Green Tara Thangkas you offer and found them all to be wonderful, the one I purchased is by far the most beautiful I have ever seen -- or at least it is the one that most speaks to me.

John, USA

Your website store is a really great place to find the most wonderful books and artifacts from beautiful India. I have been traveling to India over the last 4 years and spend 3 months there each time staying with two Bengali families that I have adopted and they have taken me in with love and generosity. I love India. Thanks for doing the business that you do. I am an artist and, well, I got through I think the first 6 pages of the book store on your site and ordered almost 500 dollars in books... I'm in trouble so I don't go there too often.. haha.. Hari Om and Hare Krishna and Jai.. Thanks a lot for doing what you do.. Great !

Steven, USA

Great Website! fast, easy and interesting!

Elaine, Australia

I have purchased from you before. Excellent service. Fast shipping. Great communication.

Pauline, Australia

Have greatly enjoyed the items on your site; very good selection! Thank you!

Kulwant, USA

I received my order yesterday. Thank you very much for the fast service and quality item. I’ll be ordering from you again very soon.

Brian, USA

ALMIGHTY GOD I BLESS EXOTIC INDIA AND ALL WHO WORK THERE!!!!!

Lord Grace, Switzerland

I have enjoyed the many sanskrit boks I purchased from you, especially the books by the honorable Prof. Pushpa Dixit.